WASHINGTON (DC)
The Guardian
By RICHARD N. OSTLING
AP Religion Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - America's Roman Catholic bishops spent half of Tuesday and all Wednesday in unusual private discussions. By policy, even the topics considered were supposed to be secret, but it is certain the sex-abuse scandal was among them.
Patricia Ewers, head of theAbuse Tracker Review Board, a lay panel that monitors the church's efforts to prevent sexual abuse, told the bishops about research plans. But some $2 million of the $3 million for a study authorized by the bishops has yet to be raised.
Separately, New York's John Jay College of Criminal Justice said it would work Fordham University on research about the ``causes and context'' underlying the abuse crisis.
Issues to be investigated include the ``prominence of young adolescent males among the victims'' and seminaries' admission policies, according to John Jay. A Vatican pronouncement on gays in seminaries is expected shortly.
A confidential Oct. 3 memo notified bishops that executive sessions might be used to discuss the review board's work and their efforts to deal with abuse issues.